Tropical storm Ondoy flooded the Philippines with a month’s worth of rain that fell in just six hours. Typhoon Ondoy caused severe rainfall that resulted in the worst flooding of Manila in more than 42 years.
Ondoy poured approximately 13.4 inches of rain on Manila in just six hours, close to the 15.4-inch average for the whole month of September. Typhoon Ondoy beat the previous record of 13.2 inches recorded during a 24-hour period way back in 1967.
Typhoon Ondoy floods Manila, Philippines.
The Philippine government declared a “state of calamity” in Manila and around two dozen provinces that were overwhelmed by the storm. Because almost, if not all major roads were clogged by severe flood and filled with stranded motorists, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had to take the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), an elevated commuter train, to reach the disaster council office.
Nine people have already been declared dead as thousands were left stranded in the streets and a lot more had been forced to evacuate their homes. The Pasig River and the Marikina River, two major bodies of water in the country, had overflowed.
Mayor Mon Ilaga, mayor of Cainta, was left stranded atop a dump truck on a road that was neck-deep in water. He told ABS-CBN, a major news and TV channel by phone that many residents climbed onto roofs because of the flood dealt by typhoon Ondoy. He added:
“The whole town is almost 100 percent underwater.”
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has released its hotlines to everyone who may be in need of assistance. The army, the Red Cross, and even the United States Embassy have been asked for and giving aid to flood victims. To ask for help from your local government units and the NDCC, dial any of the following numbers:
- 911-1873
- 912-5668
- 911-1406
- 912-2665
- 911-5061
- 734-2118
- 734-2120
If you would like to help, view this page on how to help typhoon Ondoy victims.
